PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
TThe ‘Kruibeke-Bazel-Rupelmonde’ (690 ha) is located in Flanders, near the border of the province of East Flanders and Antwerp. Here, the Sigma plan is being implemented by the Flemish authorities, in collaboration with stakeholders in the agricultural and nature sectors. Among the aims of the plan – which is linked to the economic development of the port of Antwerp – are to construct a flood area that can absorb flood waters that threaten urban areas, and to make the river Scheldt more natural, safer and more accessible. This forms part of a long-term vision for the Scheldt estuary, which was agreed by authorities in Flanders and the Netherlands. Work is also needed to restore degraded habitats, in particular alluvial forests and small lakes that are in an unfavourable conservation state. The project area is the first and the largest flood area covered by the Sigma plan to combine safety and nature conservation, so it could serve as a model for other projects.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE+SCALLUVIA project was to develop a sub-area of Kruibeke-Bazel-Rupelmonde (89.97 ha) as a high-quality site, in a good state of conservation, that functions as a flood-defence and recreational area. The project aimed to restore a total of 79.64 ha of alluvial forests and 10.23 ha of small lakes through diverse measures. Such restoration will have a beneficial impact on species of European importance, including European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), spined loach (Cobitis taenia), bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) and purple heron (Ardea purpurea). The project also planned to introduce a specially-tailored forest management plan for Kruibeke-Bazel-Rupelmonde; to regulate recreation through an accessibility plan; and to increase public support for these actions and involve local volunteers in participatory actions.
RESULTS
The LIFE+SCALLUVIA project successfully met all its objectives, with many stakeholders collaborating to efficiently combine nature conservation, flood protection and recreation in an area of the Kruibeke-Bazel-Rupelmonde in Flanders, Belgium.
In terms of forest restoration, the project team increased the area of alluvial forests, specifically ‘Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior’ (Habitats Directive priority habitat type (91E0) from 37.9 to 40.3 ha. This area is expected to reach 69 ha within the next few years. The ‘favourable’ conservation status of the alluvial forests habitat increased from 3.9 ha to 6.8 ha after only 2 years of managing the water level and is expected to grow further. The project also restored creeks, in particular increasing the surface area of the habitat ‘Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation’ (3150). This habitat was previously not present at the project site, but reached 9.7 ha and is expected to reach 11 ha in the future.
Habitat restoration enabled the re-establishment of critical species, listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive. Healthy populations were observed for European bitterling, bluethroat and common kingfisher. Little bittern, European beaver and European otter are breeding at the project site; purple heron is using the site as a resting area; European pine marten has been spotted; and the spined loach has been reintroduced.
The project team designed and implemented a fish-passable weir to promote fish migration. Eight fish species were observed passing through this weir. Furthermore, the numerous catches of the ‘trachurus’ monotype of the three-spined stickleback indicated an influx of fish from the Scheldt river to the new flooding area. This was further corroborated by the presence of twaite shad and European flounder downstream of the weir.
Recreational infrastructure was installed, based on the accessibility plan, to make the area more attractive to visitors, including a ‘Landart’ walking route and a ‘time capsule’ activity. The infrastructure was compatible with conservation goals and helped keep visitors away from sensitive nature areas. Noticeboards, and other dissemination methods, informed people about the Polders and how to behave to help protect them. Local support has evolved into co-ownership with entrepreneurs focusing on visitors; an active group of volunteers who conduct nature education, numerous guided walks and monitoring of project actions; and the support of the municipality. The project demonstrated the important role that volunteers can play in LIFE projects and how this enables capacity building for nature conservation. The project team developed ‘10 keys to project co-ownership', which could be used in many other projects. The integration of nature, tourism and forest management plan provide robust grounds for the sustainability of the project's results. In addition to implementing the Habitats Directive, the measures are beneficial to several species listed in the Birds Directive. The project is also relevant to the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) regulation; the EU Biodiversity Strategy; and, through hydrological improvements and the creation of a controlled flooded area, the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change.
The project has important economic benefits in terms of climate change adaptation. By creating increased water buffering capacity in the area, the project offers flood protection to the urbanised area, thus preventing potentially huge economic damage and human suffering due to floods. In addition, habitat restoration and enhanced recreational opportunities are beneficial for human health and wellbeing. For example, many people commute through the site to school or work by bicycle or on foot. The socio-economic study showed that restaurants and cafés had more visitors, and may benefit B&Bs in the Kruibeke municipality. The project also brought many local people together who have different interests (e.g. nature conservation, artists, recreationists, fishermen), as well as different generations, so was beneficial for increasing social cohesion.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
